Public hearing on housing trust plan set for Tuesday
Litchfield.bz (05-14-18)

A rendering of the proposed affordable housing project at the former Bantam School.

Litchfield residents on Tuesday will have a chance to see and comment on a plan by the Litchfield Housing Trust to convert the former Bantam School and its grounds into 24 units of affordable housing.

The proposed project will be presented during a public hearing at 7 p.m. at Litchfield Intermediate School.

The Board of Selectmen is proposing a transfer of the 10.5-acre site to the housing trust, which would assume the liability of removing asbestos and lead from inside the old school and underground oil contamination outside at an estimated cost of $278,000.

Under the housing trust’s plan, the Bantam post office would be allowed to stay in the building and the gym would be maintained for use by the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The five town offices in the Town Hall Annex section of the building would be moved out.

While the selectmen have endorsed the plan as the best possible use of the property, opponents of the idea believe it would be foolish for the town to turn over the site to the housing trust. They believe the old school and its grounds should be maintained for municipal and community use.